I was thinking about this today and I wouldn't be surprised if it has never happened before.
Last year's Preliminary final between the Eels and the Cowboys looks like neither team will make the top 8 this year.
Can anyone think of a year when this has happened.
Replies
2010 Roosters play Titans in Prelim Final.
2011 Roosters 12th and Titans 15th both missing the top 8.
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2009 Eels vs Bulldogs Prelim Final
2010 Eels 12th - Bulldogs 13th, both miss the top 8.
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2004 Penrith vs Bulldogs prelim final
2005 Penrith 9th , Bulldogs 11th both miss the 8. Roosters played in the other prelim and also missed the 8 in 2005 coming 10th
That really surprises me. I wonder if 3 of 4 prelim finalists have failed to make the top 8 the following year? The only certainty from last year's prelims is the Panthers. The Eels, Cowboys, and Rabbitohs could all miss this year's finals.
1986 Parramatta and Canterbury grand final, 1987 both missed finals
1988 Canterbury premiers, 1989 missed finals
1993 St. George grand finalists, 1994 missed finals
1995 Canterbury premiers, 1996 missed finals
2004 - Canterbury-Bankstown and Easts Grand Finalists, 2005 both missed finals
2005 - Wests Tigers Premiers, 2006 missed finals, NQ also missed the finals
2010 - Easts Grand Finalists, 2011 missed finals
2017 - NQ Grand Finalists, 2018 third last
1985 St. George were minor premiers and grand finalists, 1986 missed finals.